In the latest sales forecast from KGI securities, Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects a number of factors to contribute to initial slow sales of Apple’s thin new 12-inch MacBook w/Retina display. The analyst with an excellent track record believes that “higher price and concerns about the model having only one USB-C I/O, a potential inconvenience, along with supply chain constraints” will keep unit numbers at around 450K units leading up to Apple’s WWDC in June. That’s the event where a new Mac operating system, OS 10.11, will likely be unveiled.
Kuo is much more bullish on the long term prospects of the device and its features, however. He believes the product will “prompt the market to refocus on the thin and light form factor design trend, including metal casing, hinge, fanless thermal system, USB Type-C and thinner keyboard/ panel,” which already has begun to happen if our inboxes are any indication.
Full Note on MacBooks follows:
We forecast shipments of the all-new design 12-inch MacBook of 450k units in 1H15; despite limited near-term contribution to the supply chain, the product boasts positive medium/ long-term trends. Given the higher price and concerns about the model having only one USB-C I/O, a potential inconvenience, along with supply chain constraints, we forecast shipments of the all-new design 12-inch MacBook will reach only 450k units in 1H15. Despite limited near-term contribution to the supply chain, we believe the product will prompt the market to refocus on the thin and light form factor design trend, including metal casing, hinge, fanless thermal system, USB Type-C and thinner keyboard/ panel. Stocks for Action The 12-inch MacBook and Apple Watch have garnered mixed reviews. We see both products as having outstanding designs. Considering pricing and supply chain constraints in the foreseeable future, we believe shipments momentum is capped near term. Medium/ long term, we are positive on the industry trends represented by both products.
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Reblogged this on Mohit – The caretaker.
Bah, bad analysis.
Most people have no idea what all the ports are for. The fact that it has one is not a showstopper for them.
For those who do know, and have multiple things they like to plug in on their desktop: they already know and use USB hubs. Like most of you here already use, a hub is way more convenient to plug in one cable instead of two or three or four. That’s what I do with my Thunderbolt Display which has an integrated hub, and what I did way back when I just had a non-Thunderbolt Mac.
Those who claim that the new MB is limited due to the number of ports is simply ignorant of the tech marketplace and the industry direction.
Especially the industry direction. 10 years from now, no laptop will have ports (which will be the case in 3 years for Macs). And this very MacBook will be the kickstarter of this push.
This guy spews crap by the hour.
He’s wrong about the design affecting sales. The original MacBook Air (looking back) was a useless PoS really. Underpowered, no ports, and almost un-repairable/upgradeable, just like this.
It sold like hotcakes and free beer.
Headline should say “fewer”, not “less”.
A dumb question, but one I’d appreciate somebody answering. If this model does not have an optical drive, nor a hard drive, as far as I can tell. What makes it a MacBook versus a MacBook Air. Is it processor? Thanks in advance.
The 8 Gigabytes of RAM standard is an impressive feature.